The Coathangers: Just wanna have fun

A collective distaste for President George W. drove a car full of Georgia girls to attend an anti-Bush rally last year in the nation's capital. Stuck in the ride for eight hours, the Coathangers were born. They chose the name — an irreverent take on abortions — for its vulgarity. Though pro-choice, the band members don't consider themselves politically motivated. Instead, their selection of the name reflects the same playful attitude the Coathangers convey in songs with pubescent titles such as "Don't Touch My Shit" and "Nestle in My Boobies."

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As one of the few all-girl groups in Atlanta, the band is making an impression. But is it the music or the cute factor that's earning the Coathangers so much attention in the male-dominated scene?

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"It works for us and against us," guitarist Julia Kugel says regarding their gender, "because people don't expect shit from us." Despite headlining at Lenny's and opening for established local groups such as the Carbonas, the Selmanaires and the Hiss, the girls don't want to be taken too seriously.

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"We're trying to have a good time and we want everyone to have a good time with us," says drummer Stephanie Luke. When they played the Drunken Unicorn in March, they brought homemade cookies onstage, bounced balloons off audience members' heads, threw confetti and yelled "Eat some fucking cookies!"

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Bass player Meredith Franco and keyboardist Candice Jones round out the quartet, creating a sound that pulls from the tongue-in-cheek playfulness of early Beastie Boys, the screeching noise of Erase Errata and the confrontational pro-girl attitude defined by Bikini Kill. With a live demo already circulating and upcoming releases due from Die Slaughterhaus and Rob's House Records, the Coathangers might soon deserve a serious listen.

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The Coathangers w/ the Pop Machine, Casper and the Cookies and the Shanghai Gesture. $5. 9 p.m. Thurs., April 5. Lenny's, 486 Decatur St. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com.